Much is said, these days, about "denominationalism". We often refer to our "denominational friends", the "denominational world", and to "denominational error". What do we intend when we use this term? I suspect that we are usually referring to the lost who are not members of "the" church. "The" church, of course, referring to the correctly named religious institution. Let us examine our position on this very vital matter in light of God's revealed word.

First of all, God's ecclesia (His "church", if you prefer) is not a named institution. The Holy Spirit never assigned a proper noun name to God's new covenant subjects. He used such descriptive terms as "elect", "chosen", "family", "children", "bride", "congregation", "people", "saints", "assembly", "assemblies of the Gentiles", "assembly of the first born, and "assembly of God". These terms all describe WHAT the church is and not WHO it is. The church is people. The word, "church", as used in the Bible, is a people word. If we are going to use it we should use it with this understanding. When the church was scattered, it was people who were scattered and not some denominated religious institution. Nowhere in the Bible is it referred to as an organization which has entity (life) separate and apart from the people who constitute it. Jesus died to purchase a people. He did not die to purchase a denominated, religious organization. He died to make people right with God. He did not die to make a denominated, religious organization right with God. It may be a hard pill for us to swallow but, no denominated, religious organization is right with God. If it is denominated, it is of man-the same as the schisms in First Corinthians. Even God was reluctant to be called by name. The words He authorized for Himself, rather, were descriptive of His omnipotence. God does not need a denominating name to distinguish Him because there is no other God. His church does not need a denominating name because there is no other church. His is the "one" church. While it is true that God intends for His children to be a peculiar people, He does not intend for that peculiarity to be by denominating name. The family of God is to be recognized by qualities of character-primarily that we "love one another". If we insist on distinguishing ourselves by name we are no different than the schisms of First Corinthians.

Webster defines the word, "denominate", very simply as, "To give a name to-to designate". The schisms at Corinth, in addition to thinking too highly of themselves (1'st Cor. 4:7), sealed their sectarian attitudes with designating names: e.g. "of Paul", "of Cephas", "of Apollos", and"of Christ". They wished to be distinguished from the other parts of the body. They were being exclusive. Paul pointed out the awful repugnance of this attitude when he asked, "Is Christ divided?" He also said, "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you'." He accused them of acting like people "in sin".

Webster defines the word, "denominationalism", thusly: The tendency to separate into religious sects or denominations; Advocacy of such separation; and, Strict adherence to a denomination-sectarianism. Any denominated, religious organization that has a distinguishing name and an excluding creed fits this definition.

So, the question boils down to this: Who are the denominational? In kindness, let me answer the question with a question: Who has a denominating name? If it has a denominating name it is denominational, regardless of whatever other scriptural appearances it has. But since we have always used the word, "denominational", to refer to others, it becomes all the more difficult to face the truth of the matter, and that truth is that we have judged our denominational friends to be lost because they have denominational names. Let us pray that our judgements don't come up to haunt us in the final judgement. Better yet, let us repent.

Brethren, we must divest ourselves of our denominating names. Please think on these things. I believe them to be true to the Word.

Write The Author

Back To Living Stones

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page